As Jakarta election comes closer, leaders of political parties jumped into campaign activities to give whatever influence they have to get people to vote for their partys candidate.
Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) Chairman Prabowo Subiakto was the first to be seen campaigning for his party's candidates, Anies Baswedan and Sandiaga Uno. Democratic Party Chairman, also former president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) has recently started campaigning for his eldest, Agus Yudhoyono, even though initially he tried to distance himself from Agus to proof that Agus is not his puppet candidate.
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) Chairwoman, also another former president, Megawati Soekarno Putri is no different. She joined last weeks massive event to promote incumbent Basuki Tjahaja Purnama and running mate Djarot Saiful in Senayan, South Jakarta.
Former Presidential Candidate Prabowo and the two former presidents are the oldest and biggest players in Indonesias politics. Jakarta election is just one of more than 100 simultaneous regional elections held this year, so why is there so much effort put into this one?
Its actually normal for party chairman to join a regional campaign, but what makes Jakarta special is how the 2012 Jakarta election became a successful stepping stone for those eyeing power in national level, said Yunarto Wijaya, executive director of Charta Politica. It created a precedent that makes Jakarta Election feelslike the general elections.
So, is it all about the unfinished business from 2014 Presidential Elections?
Its more about taking the first step and positioning oneself in the future race, Yunarto said. Megawati, for instance, if she wants to keep PDIP in power, she has to win this election. SBY also needs to start gathering power for his camp, maybe not for himself, but someone from his regime.
And Prabowo already claimed to the public that for him to be a president in 2019, Anies-Sandi need to win.
But why only those three names? What about other parties?
Our democracy is like a cult of personalities, thats why the three biggest persons take the spotlight alongside their parties. Meanwhile, other parties seem like to be mere supporters, Yunarto said.
The big question here is whether the effort matter.
Chairmen of big parties are usually strong electorate magnets, he said.
Executive director of the Association for Elections and Democracy (Perludem) Titi Anggraini has different take.
Im sure that it matters, but Im not sure about its actual significance, she said. They do have their masses, but personalization in our politics is too strong. Its like, just because I voted for you as president, doesnt mean I will vote for your candidate as my governor.
But Yunarto and Titi agree on one thing that the big leagues involvement in Jakarta election signifies another problem.
We have a crisis of political figures. Regeneration is not working, theres almost no one besides the chairperson, and political parties are only symbolized by its chairperson, said Titi.
The party machine only works when its chairman jumps in, like how PDIPs political machine only works when Megawati takes part and gives her blessing, he said.
(brl/red)
